Research in artificial complexity (i.e., artificial life, complex systems,
and agent-based distillation), largely depends on the use of computer software.
The reliability of the obtained results is directly related to two key
assumptions: (1) that the software represents the problem as intended by the
developer; and (2) that the software is bug-free. However, developing software
for artificial complexity offers new challenges to software engineering, and it
becomes imperative to discuss the software engineering problems arising in
artificial complexity that are different from traditional computer programming.
The first aim of this paper is to identify the possible challenges confronted by
developers of systems involving artificial complexity. The second is to offer
preliminary suggestions on how to incorporate existing software engineering
techniques into artificial complexity's simulation development.